(--)
Ithiel is by me!
The dusky hybrid glanced toward Lystra. Her saddlebags were empty, and while he ran the risk of damaging the feathers... perhaps it would be better to remain out in the open with Willam. He could trust himself to avoid giving in to temptation; he knew there was no chance of him breaking his chasteness, but there was always the chance of his body betraying even his own wishes. At least here he could again escape easily. There was a nervousness within Ithiel that the dusky man did not like -- a keyed-up, tautly-drawn sort of feeling. He was entirely unused to it, though his skill in concealment of his feelings allowed him to keep evidence of it from his face.
His actions, however, were another matter entirely -- he was more awkward than usual, keeping his eyes steadily on her shoulders or averting them entirely. Perhaps she would not known the strangeness of this, for she'd only met him once before, but it was not Ithiel's custom to be so... intimidated, perhaps, was the right word, by another canine -- much less a woman! The only feeling he'd experienced akin to this had been in Scintilla, with his like-aged female trainee. Perhaps they could have been together, but then she began to exceed Ithiel in all her endeavors. He'd never been able to shake the feeling of near-fear (he knew now it was intimidation) and inadequacy around her.
There was no inadequacy around Willam, though -- she had yet to demonstrate skill to exceed his own, and his comfortably high rank allowed him to avoid this feeling with her as of yet. I make them, yes, he said. Turning abruptly toward Lystra, he withdrew an arrow from the quiver hanging on the far side of her saddle and held it out to to Willam. Although his bow was also strapped to the saddle, unstrung, he wouldn't allow that to her -- she might practice with one of the other bows he had, but that was his bow from Scintilla, and the best of his arsenal. Wordlessly, the dust-colored hybrid settled to the floor, putting the eagle in front of him. He extended the broken wing, feeling the bones. Dirty break, he commented. You were right.
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